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advocate

[ verb ad-vuh-keyt; noun ad-vuh-kit, -keyt ]
/ verb ˈæd vəˌkeɪt; noun ˈæd və kɪt, -ˌkeɪt /
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See synonyms for: advocate / advocated / advocates / advocating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ad·vo·cat·ed, ad·vo·cat·ing.
to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly: He advocated higher salaries for teachers.
verb (used without object), ad·vo·cat·ed, ad·vo·cat·ing.
to act as an advocate: a father who advocates for his disabled child.
noun
a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed by of): an advocate of peace.
a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
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Origin of advocate

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin advocātus “legal counselor,” originally past participle of advocāre “to call to one's aid,” equivalent to ad- ad- + vocāre “to call” (akin to vōx voice); replacing Middle English avocat, from Middle French

OTHER WORDS FROM advocate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use advocate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for advocate

advocate

verb (ˈædvəˌkeɪt)
(tr; may take a clause as object) to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of
noun (ˈædvəkɪt, -ˌkeɪt)
a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter
a person who intercedes on behalf of another
a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of lawSee also barrister, solicitor, counsellor
Scots law the usual word for barrister

Derived forms of advocate

advocatory, adjective

Word Origin for advocate

C14: via Old French from Latin advocātus legal witness, advocate, from advocāre to call as witness, from vocāre to call
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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